BBC pundit Alan Shearer has praised the contributions of Manchester United pair Juan Mata and Bruno Fernandes as the Red Devils came out 4-1 winners against Newcastle yesterday evening.

With Anthony Martial suspended and Mason Greenwood injured, it meant Mata was given his first minutes in the Premier League this season. The Spaniard, along with Fernandes, played in between the lines throughout the game and Shearer was quick to credit their intelligent play which helped United keep possession and create chances:

“They dominated possession. (Juan) Mata and (Bruno) Fernandes were so clever I thought because they just went and stood in those little pockets in the holes in front of Newcastle’s back four and Newcastle couldn’t handle that. They were just too good on the ball, they showed a lot of creativity, everything Newcastle didn’t have.”

While Fernandes’s contribution has been widely praised since his arrival back in January, it’s good to see Mata getting some praise as well. The 32-year-old started the season with some great displays in the Carabao Cup, and he was certainly deserving of his start against Newcastle.

It will be interesting to see whether the midfielder plays against Paris Saint-Germain during the week, with both Martial and Greenwood expected to be back in contention by then.